How much does it cost to travel to Palermo?
You should plan to spend around $99 (€92) per day on your vacation in Palermo. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $31 (€29) on meals
- $6.03 (€5.64) on local transportation
- $120 (€113) on hotels
A one week trip to Palermo for two people costs, on average, $1,383 (€1,295). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Palermo has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Palermo expensive to visit?
Prices in Palermo are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Palermo is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Novi Sad, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Murren.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Palermo Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Palermo?
The average Palermo trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Palermo travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€113
($120)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€5.64
($6)
|
Food 2
|
€29
($31)
|
Entertainment 1
|
€17
($18)
|
Alcohol 2
|
€6 -
17
($6 - 18)
|
Accommodation Budget in Palermo
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Palermo is $60 (€56). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Palermo is $120 (€113). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Palermo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Palermo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Palermo is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $6.03 (€5.64) per person, per day, on local transportation in Palermo.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$6.03
€5.64
How much does it cost to go to Palermo? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Palermo will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Palermo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Palermo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
-
Bus to Monreale
€3.00
-
Bus From Airport
€6.00
-
90 Minute Bus Pass
€1.30
-
Short Taxi Ride
€4.35
Food Budget in Palermo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Palermo can vary, the average cost of food in Palermo is $31 (€29) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Palermo should cost around $12 (€12) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Palermo is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$31
€29
Typical prices for Food in Palermo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Palermo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
-
Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
€32
-
Fast Food Lunch
€5.32
Entertainment Budget in Palermo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Palermo typically cost an average of $18 (€17) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$18
€17
Typical prices for Entertainment in Palermo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Palermo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
-
Capuchin Catacombs (for 2)
€6.00
-
Castello della Zisa Entrance (for Two)
€12
-
Theater Tickets (for Two)
€49
Alcohol Budget in Palermo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $12 (€11) on alcoholic beverages in Palermo per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$12
€11
Typical prices for Alcohol in Palermo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Palermo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
-
Beer
€2.56
-
Bottle of Quality Wine
€11
Palermo On a Budget
Palermo, Italy
Located on its north coast, Palermo is the capital city of Sicily. The city has a lot to offer visitors who decide to venture to this often overlooked part of Italy. There is an interesting history, some unique and delicious food, and a fascinating culture. Prices in Sicily are generally cheaper than elsewhere in Italy. There are a handful of budget accommodation options and plenty of mid range hotels that are spread throughout the city. The rooms are usually comfortable and clean but as always, read reviews before making your reservation.
Palermo has a Mediterranean climate that has hot summers and cool and wet winters. It is actually one of the hottest cities in Europe with an average annual air temperature of 18.5 degrees Celsius. Snow is very rare but not unheard of. The sea is an average temperature of 14 degrees Celsius in the winter and 26 degrees Celsius in the summer.
Sights
Although Palermo is probably not the first city that comes to mind when you plan a trip to Italy, it offers a unique and different perspective on the country. Despite its lack of fame as a tourist destination, there are many historic and impressive sights throughout the city such as Quattro Canti, Catacombe dei Cappuccini, Palazzo dei Normanni, and the Gesu Church. If you want to see some of the city's Art-Nouveau then head to the area of Viale della Liberta Avenue and wander between the Politeama Theater and Piazza Croci. This area is referred to as Palermo's Avenue des Champs-Elysees.
Neighborhoods
Palermo's layout was established during medieval times. There are three outdoor markets that date back hundreds of years and create the boundaries of the area. There are also four historical districts that are referred to as mandamenti. These areas each have their own historic character.
Notable neighborhoods today include La Kalsa, which was the Arabic headquarters. It still maintains its Arabic character today.
La Vucciria was once at the vibrant heart of the city but today it has mainly butcher shops, fishmongers and old houses. It is a great place to grab a bite to eat.
Il Ballaro was another historic market that is still popular with locals and visitors alike.
Il Capo is a market with a lot of character remaining. There are winding streets and alleyways that give it the feel of a bazaar. Notable sights in this neighborhood include Teatro Massimo, Chiesa di Sant'Agostino and Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione.
Albergheria is the fourth mandamenti and it has wandering alleyways, interesting buildings, and some new cafes spread throughout.
Castellammare is named for the castle that once overlooked the sea, but is home today to a handful of sights.
Finally, the New City has many impressive squares, some of the wealthiest parts of the city, and the area where the Art Nouveau movement took over.
Activities
Activities in Palermo include dining at the interesting restaurants, wandering around the city or taking a sailboat cruise. These cruises let you enjoy sightseeing from the water, snorkeling, drinking, eating and soaking up some sun. If you have some spare time while you're in town then they can be a different way to experience Sicily.
Food and Dining
Food in Sicily is somewhat different from elsewhere in Italy. You should definitely make a point of trying some of the regional specialties. Spaghetti ai ricci is a pasta dish that is prepared with sea urchin. Pasta alle sarde is pasta with anchovies, and arancine is a street food that is essentially a deep fried rice croquette. Also be sure and try the panino con la milza or panelle. These can be found at any of the sandwich stands that are spread throughout the old city center. Being the island's largest city, Palermo is a particularly good city to sample Sicilian food as the options are plentiful and quite diverse. They are also reasonably priced.
Transportation
Many people choose to fly into Palermo International Airport, which is located 32 kilometers to the west of the city. There are a variety of alternatives to arrive on the island though. There are ferries that make their way between Palermo and the cities of Salerno, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Naples, Valleta (Malta), and Cagliari (Sardinia). There's also a train that runs from Rome and Naples using the train ferry that crosses the Messina Straits.
Once you arrive, there's really no need to use public transportation in Palermo as most of the sights of interest are within walking distance. If you hope to explore the city in more detail there is a bus system. You can purchase a full days (24 hours) pass for only four euros.
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We've been gathering travel cost data from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of destinations around the world.